Van Gaal argues he was always convinced his methods would work and that the team’s defensive organisation is finally being matched by flair on the ball.
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Mourinho was axed by Chelsea just months after leading them to the Premier League title, with the Blues languishing near the relegation zone following the breakdown of his relationship with several members of the squad. “Look at your wife, or maybe you have children, or a nephew or something like that”.
“Okay. So you didn’t speak to Ed Woodward, not with the Glazers and you are inventing a story”.
United’s performance at Chelsea was in keeping with the recent improvement that has seen them record comfortable wins over Derby County and Stoke City. The 53-year-old is believed to prefer to take over in the close-season when he can start with a clean slate rather than inheriting van Gaal’s problems with no chance of changing the squad now the transfer window has shut. “But I am so humble, and I am always ready to learn from people who know more than me”. “You can not say it’s nothing when you have eight players injured for three months and having two positions unoccupied”. You can say it is misfortune but it is not the first time, Newcastle United was the same.
“It is not easy to play here because the individual level of play is high in Chelsea. I don’t think it’s fair”.
“Now it’s 1-1, so we improved!”
United goalkeeper David de Gea initially thwarted Chelsea’s quest for an equaliser, Van Gaal hailing his “remarkable” saves from Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas, only for Costa to strike at the death.
This weekend’s game will represent the past and potential future of Jose Mourinho. It is very important to be there in April, five points or less from the top.
“We are unbeaten, but if you want to get into fourth place, you must have your victories”.
He said of his current unemployment, “I am not enjoying it. To be fully happy I need everything, so I go back to football”. And of course our ominous pre-season that included not only fake results but fake transfers, both of which turned out to have a far more telling effect on the rest of our season that we had feared at the time. We can probably rule out a third go-around with Chelsea, certainly for now, and possibly for ever.
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Chelsea’s French centre-back Kurt Zouma will undergo scans after being stretchered off with what Hiddink feared was a “very bad” hyperextended right knee.
